Abstract
This article presents a literature review of sensors for the monitoring of benzene in ambient air and other volatile organic compounds. Combined with information provided by stakeholders, manufacturers and literature, the review considers commercially available sensors, including PID-based sensors, semiconductor (resistive gas sensors) and portable on-line measuring devices as for example sensor arrays. The bibliographic collection includes the following topics: sensor description, field of application at fixed sites, indoor and ambient air monitoring, range of concentration levels and limit of detection in air, model descriptions of the phenomena involved in the sensor detection process, gaseous interference selectivity of sensors in complex VOC matrix, validation data in lab experiments and under field conditions.
Highlights
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are hazardous compounds that may cause damage to humans with chronic exposure [1]
The main OEM photo-ionisation detectors (PID) sensors include the Ion Science (Cambridge, UK) model ppb MiniPiD white, AlphaSense (Great Notley, UK) model PID-AH for VOCs, Mocon-Baseline (Lyons, CO, USA) models piD-TECH eVx Blue 045-014 and piD-TECH plus 043-235. These small sensors can reach a low limit of detection (LoD) due to their high sensitivity to benzene up to sub-ppb for the MiniPiD white, PID-AH
Portable gas chromatographs used for the determination of VOCs in air quality assessment can be classified into miniaturized chromatographic systems, micro gas chromatographs or lab-on-a-chip type (LOC) and portable gas chromatograph analysers
Summary
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are hazardous compounds that may cause damage to humans with chronic exposure [1]. Air quality assessment should rely on exposure based monitoring of air pollutants with higher spatial resolution [5] even though using measurement methods with lower data quality (the so-called indicative measurements in the AQD). Commercial low-cost sensors represent a big opportunity for developing networks of VOC measurements able to monitor large areas with higher spatial resolution at a lower cost than the reference measurements method [2]. In comparison to other indicative methods such as diffusive samplers [6], micro-sensors are able to supply near to real time air pollution measurements by electronic means. This make it possible to assess the effect of short term action plans The authors tried to tabulate comparable characteristics for all sensors reported though they cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of the information given in the datasheet of the equipment
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
